AN ACT TO REVISE THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-801, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS FOR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE-ONLY COMMITTEE; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-803, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THE CONTENT OF THE STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION FOR A CANDIDATE COMMITTEE; TO REQUIRE BOTH CANDIDATE COMMITTEES AND POLITICAL COMMITTEES TO KEEP DETAILED ACCOUNTS OF FUNDS RECEIVED OR EXPENDED BY THE COMMITTEE; TO PROVIDE WHEN THOSE ACCOUNTS MAY BE VIEWED; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-805, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT FROM AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027, CANDIDATE COMMITTEES AND POLITICAL COMMITTEES SHALL FILE ALL REPORTS THROUGH AN ELECTRONIC CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILING SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-807, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE TERMINATION REPORT; TO CLARIFY WHEN PERIODIC REPORTS SHALL BE FILED; TO PROVIDE WHEN MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES SHALL FILE PERIODIC REPORTS; TO PROVIDE THAT FROM AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027, THE NOTIFICATION REQUIRED OF CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED SHALL BE IN WRITING AND MAY BE TRANSMITTED THROUGH THE ELECTRONIC CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILING SYSTEM; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-809, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE PENALTIES FOR CANDIDATES AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE-ONLY COMMITTEES THAT RECEIVE CONTRIBUTIONS IN VIOLATION OF CORPORATE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-811, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON OR ENTITY THAT IS REQUIRED TO FILE A CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT AND IS MORE THAN TWENTY DAYS DELINQUENT MAY NOT RECEIVE ANY CONTRIBUTIONS OR MAKE EXPENDITURES UNTIL THE REQUIRED REPORT IS FILED; TO PROVIDE FINES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-813, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO FILE A CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE REPORT; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH FINES SHALL APPLY TO FAILURE TO FILE A PRE-ELECTION REPORT; TO PROVIDE AN INCREASE IN THE FINE IF THE CANDIDATE COMMITTEE OR POLITICAL COMMITTEE HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY FINE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-821, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT, UPON FILING A TERMINATION REPORT, CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS MAY NOT BE MAINTAINED IN A CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT; TO REMOVE THE PROVISION THAT ALLOWED ANY CONTRIBUTIONS ACCRUING TO A CANDIDATE'S OR OFFICEHOLDER'S CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT BEFORE JANUARY 1, 2018, TO BE EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECTION; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 23-15-821.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ESTABLISH CORPORATE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS; TO PROVIDE CIVIL PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING THE CORPORATE CONTRIBUTION LIMITS; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 23-15-823, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROHIBIT POLITICAL COMMITTEES FROM TRANSFERRING MONEY TO OTHER POLITICAL COMMITTEES; TO PROHIBIT CANDIDATES OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES FROM USING MORE THAN ONE POLITICAL COMMITTEE; TO PROHIBIT PRE-CHECKED OR PRE-MARKED BOXES FOR CONTRIBUTION AMOUNTS OR AUTHORIZATIONS FOR RECURRING CONTRIBUTIONS ON ANY COMMUNICATION THAT REQUESTS A CONTRIBUTION; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 23-15-825, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT, FROM AND AFTER JANUARY 1, 2027, THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL RANDOMLY SELECT CERTAIN CAMPAIGN ACCOUNTS FOR AUDIT; TO AMEND SECTION 23-15-897, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLICATION OF CAMPAIGN MATERIALS SHALL BE PRINTED IN A MANNER IN WHICH THE REQUIRED LANGUAGE IS EASY TO READ; TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS PROVISION; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 97-13-47, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A PERSON WHO DISSEMINATES A DEEP FAKE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CRIME IF THE PERSON KNOWS OR HAD REASON TO KNOW THAT THE INFORMATION BEING DISSEMINATED IS A DEEP FAKE AND THE DISSEMINATION OCCURS WITHIN NINETY DAYS OF AN ELECTION, WAS DISSEMINATED WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE DEPICTED INDIVIDUAL, AND WAS DISSEMINATED WITH THE INTENT TO INJURE A CANDIDATE, INFLUENCE THE RESULT OF AN ELECTION OR DETER ANY PERSON FROM VOTING; TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS; TO PROVIDE THE SENTENCING FOR THE CRIME; TO PROVIDE A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS; TO PROVIDE DEFENSES TO THE CRIME; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 23-15-815, 23-15-817, 23-15-819 AND 25-61-12, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 23-15-801, 23-15-803, 23-15-805, 23-15-807, 23-15-809, 23-15-811, 23-15-813, 23-15-821, 23-15-897, 23-15-815, 23-15-817, 23-15-819, 25-61-12